Liver Cancer
Liver cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the liver grow uncontrollably and form a tumour. It’s less common than other types of cancer, with around 7,000 new cases diagnosed in the UK every year.
What is liver cancer?
Liver cancer develops from the cells of the liver. Although it’s less common than some other cancers, it’s a serious condition that requires prompt diagnosis and specialist treatment. Symptoms can be vague in the early stages, which means some people don’t realise they have liver cancer until it has progressed.
At Welbeck, our specialists provide expert assessment, advanced diagnostics, and treatment for people with primary liver cancer and liver metastases.
More information
There are 2 main categories of liver cancer:
Primary liver cancer
Primary liver cancer begins in the liver itself. The most common type is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which develops from the main liver cells called hepatocytes.
Less common forms of primary liver cancer include:
intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer within the liver)
angiosarcoma
hepatoblastoma, which is rare and mainly affects children
Secondary liver cancer (liver metastases)
Secondary liver cancer, also known as liver metastases, occurs when cancer starts elsewhere in the body and spreads to the liver.
The liver is one of the most common places for cancer to spread because it receives a large blood supply. Any cancer can spread to the liver, but he most common cancers to do so are:
pancreatic cancer
neuroendocrine tumour (NET) cancers
uveal melanoma
ovarian cancer
Liver metastases are more common than primary liver cancer. Treatment depends on the original cancer type, the number of liver tumours, and a person's overall health.
At Welbeck, our specialists work closely with colleagues across multiple specialties to ensure patients with liver metastases receive comprehensive, coordinated care.
The liver is one of the body's largest organs. It performs many important functions, including filtering toxins from the blood, producing bile to help digest food, storing nutrients, and supporting the immune system as well as the excretory and detoxification processes. Many functions of the liver are yet to be discovered. The liver is therefore a vital organ.
Primary liver cancer does not always cause symptoms in its early stages, and when symptoms do develop, they can vary from person to person.
Common symptoms include:
unexplained weight loss
loss of appetite
feeling full after eating small amounts of food
pain or discomfort in the upper right side of the abdomen
swelling or bloating of the abdomen
fatigue and weakness
nausea or vomiting
a lump beneath the ribs on the right side
pain near the right shoulder blade
As the disease progresses, additional symptoms may develop, including:
jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
dark urine
pale stools
itchy skin
fever
night sweats
Symptoms of liver metastases
People with liver metastases may experience symptoms related to both the liver and the original cancer.
Symptoms can include:
symptoms from primary cancer which has spread to the liver
unexplained weight loss
fatigue
loss of appetite
abdominal pain
jaundice
enlarged liver
abdominal swelling caused by fluid build-up
Because these symptoms can have many causes, it’s important to seek medical advice if they persist or worsen.
Primary liver cancer develops when genetic changes occur within liver cells, causing them to grow and divide uncontrollably.
In many cases, these changes are linked to long-term liver damage and inflammation.
Common causes and risk factors include:
cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)
chronic hepatitis B infection
chronic hepatitis C infection
excessive alcohol consumption over many years
non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
obesity
smoking
exposure to aflatoxins, which are toxins produced by certain moulds
inherited liver diseases such as haemochromatosis
Risk factors for liver metastases
Liver metastases occur when cancer cells spread from another part of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
The risk depends largely on:
the type of primary cancer
the stage of the original cancer
how aggressive the cancer is
whether treatment has controlled the original tumour
If you have symptoms that may suggest liver cancer, your Welbeck consultant will begin by discussing your medical history, symptoms, lifestyle factors, and any history of liver disease.
They may also perform a physical examination to look for signs such as jaundice, abdominal swelling, or an enlarged liver.
A diagnosis often requires several investigations, with tests including:
blood tests, including liver function tests
alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) blood test
PET-CT scan in selected cases
liver biopsy
Some people with cirrhosis or chronic liver disease undergo regular surveillance scans to detect liver cancer at an earlier stage.
Diagnosing liver metastases
When liver metastases are suspected, your consultant will also investigate the original cancer site if it has not already been identified.
Additional tests may include:
mammography
specialist tumour marker blood tests
further imaging studies
Following diagnosis, your specialist will determine the stage of the cancer to guide treatment planning.
In many cases, liver cancer is not preventable. However, there are several ways to reduce your risk.
These include:
maintaining a healthy weight
limiting alcohol consumption
avoiding smoking
receiving hepatitis B vaccination where appropriate
seeking treatment for hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection, if this is diagnosed and is untreated
managing diabetes effectively
treating fatty liver disease early
attending regular surveillance if you have cirrhosis or another high-risk liver condition
Unfortunately, liver metastases cannot always be prevented, as they depend on the behaviour of the original cancer. Early diagnosis and treatment of primary cancers can help reduce the risk of spread.
Without treatment, liver cancer can affect the liver's ability to perform its essential functions.
Potential complications include:
liver failure
jaundice
fluid accumulation in the abdomen (ascites)
internal bleeding
blood clotting problems
infection
malnutrition
spread of cancer to other parts of the body
Liver metastases can also interfere with normal liver function, particularly when multiple tumours are present.
While these complications can sound concerning, advances in diagnosis and treatment mean many people can achieve good symptom control and improved quality of life with specialist care.
While we do not currently offer cancer treatment at Welbeck, your diagnosing consultant will ensure that you’re referred to the correct teams so that the next steps can be started as quickly as possible.
Treatment depends on:
the type of liver cancer
the size and number of tumours
whether the cancer has spread
the health of the liver
your overall health
Treatment options may include:
active surveillance for selected patients
surgical removal of part of the liver (liver resection)
liver transplantation
radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
microwave ablation
transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE)
selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT)
radiotherapy
chemotherapy
targeted therapies
immunotherapy
palliative care and symptom management
Treatment options for liver metastases
Treatment for liver metastases is often different from treatment for primary liver cancer.
Options may include:
surgical removal of liver metastases
ablation therapies
chemotherapy
targeted cancer therapies
immunotherapy
stereotactic radiotherapy
treatment of the original cancer site
Many patients benefit from a multidisciplinary approach involving hepatologists, oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, and other specialists.
At Welbeck, our digestive health specialists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.
With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.
All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.
Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.
Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.
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Frequently asked questions
Routine blood tests alone cannot diagnose liver cancer. However, abnormal liver function tests or elevated tumour markers may indicate that further investigations are needed. Imaging scans are usually required to confirm a diagnosis.
Most liver cancers are not inherited. However, certain inherited conditions, including haemochromatosis and some rare metabolic disorders, can increase the risk of developing liver cancer later in life.
Yes. The liver has a remarkable ability to regenerate. Surgeons can safely remove part of the liver in suitable patients, and the remaining healthy liver tissue can grow and continue performing its normal functions.
Primary liver cancer starts in the liver itself. Liver metastases occur when cancer begins elsewhere in the body and spreads to the liver. The distinction is important because treatment is often based on where the cancer originally developed.